SpaceX fully assembles Starship pending launch clearance
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommendations published last week hinted that the Starship launch could take place on 10, 11 or 12 April 2023. The rocket system has already been assembled, but the likely launch date has been postponed.
Here's What We Know
The regulator has not yet granted SpaceX permission to launch Starship. The day before, the agency postponed a possible date for the spacecraft's first orbital flight. The four-hour launch window will open on 17 April at 08:00 (EDT) or 05:00 (PDT).
Starship fully stacked at Starbase. Team is working towards a launch rehearsal next week followed by Starship's first integrated flight test ~week later pending regulatory approval pic.twitter.com/9VbJLppswp
- SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 6, 2023
Despite the lack of a license, Starship is already awaiting its stellar hour at the Starbase launch site in Texas. Elon Musk's company has fully completed assembly of the rocket system. It consists of two prototypes called Ship 24 (the ship) and Booster 7 (the Super Heavy rocket booster).
Starship preparing for launch ???? pic.twitter.com/M1pR8rsmYt
- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 6, 2023
The 120-meter Super Heavy is equipped with 33 Raptor engines. The spacecraft has only six. For SpaceX, the new rocket system will be capable of orbiting a large number of communications satellites at a time, including a second-generation Starlink. In addition, Starship will be used in 2025 during the landing of astronauts on the moon and during the landing on Mars, probably in the 2040s.
Source: space
